Why does meat need to warm up? When meat is removed from the refrigerator or freezer, it’s cold and at the temperature of preservation. Cooking it “as is” will yield a very different taste. Compare cold-cooked meat to meat you allow to arrive at room temperature outside the fridge. There’s no contest!
Try allowing your meat to rest at room temperature for about an hour. This is how long you should leave a steak out before cooking to ensure the best taste. Doing this is not harmful to your health and will ensure the best taste, texture, and aroma. A temperature between 25 and 30°C will work perfectly.
The Advantages of Bringing Meat to Room Temperature
To get the best flavor out of your meat, it should always be at room temperature before cooking. Taking this step achieves a lot more than maximizing the meat’s flavor, aroma, and texture. Let’s take a look at the advantages you can expect from properly tempering your meat.
It Keeps the Meat From Drying Out
If you want to cook a beautiful tenderloin in the oven while retaining all of the flavor, remove it from the refrigerator one hour before you intend to cook. When you put cold meat directly on a hot pan, most of the flavorful liquid will leak out and not even end up sealed in your steak. A juicy, tender piece of meat must be tempered so that the flavor is sealed in, ready to tantalize your tongue.
It Maintains the Size of the Steak
Nobody wants a small steak! And that’s a key reason meat should be brought to room temperature before cooking.
A big temperature difference between the interior and exterior of your steak will cause it to become less juicy. This effect causes the liquid to seep out, which decreases volume. Your big, juicy piece of steak turns into something way less impressive than expected. Leaving it to rest an hour before cooking will help you avoid the disappointment of a smaller-than-expected meal. How long you leave a steak out before cooking it speaks to the meat’s eye appeal.
It Ensures an Evenly Cooked Steak
Have you ever cut into a steak, only to find the inside still cold and uncooked? Unfortunately, this isn’t uncommon when you fail to temper it. This is another important reason meat should be at room temperature before cooking.
The outer layer will come to room temperature faster than the center of the meat, and you will most likely overcook the surface while leaving the middle cold. And yes, there is a difference between a rare or medium-rare steak and a steak with a cold and hard center! How long you’ve planned to leave a steak out before cooking it directly impacts how evenly it cooks. And that impacts the quality of your dining experience.
It Reduces Refrigerator Aroma
Another key reason meat should be at room temperature before cooking is that allowing it to come to room temperature will cut any funky odors it may have absorbed from other foods in your fridge. Once it has been tempered, it will return to the expected taste and scent. Raw absorbs odors and flavors from other foods in the refrigerator, such as fish or cheese. Therefore, tempering is a crucial step to ensure you have the best possible aroma of the meat you’re cooking.
It Offers Greater Tenderness
You can enhance your digestion process when you eat a piece of meat that is thoroughly cooked after reaching the proper temperature. When you place it on the grill straight from the fridge, it’s common for meat to cook unevenly, affecting softness and texture. You could even experience bloating and an upset stomach.
Proper cooking techniques will ensure a happy belly even after the meal is done. How long you leave a steak or any other meat out before cooking affects its texture and may lead to unpleasant consequences if you’re not leaving the meat out long enough.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to cooking and serving a high-quality cut of meat, every detail counts. Meat should be at room temperature before cooking because this detail makes your meal so much more delicious! Technique is everything, and even if you’re inexperienced, some practice promises great meals to come. Pay attention to the process and you won’t regret it.
Resting and properly cooking the steak, tenderloin, or T-bone to preserve the juices, aroma, and flavor may seem like a lot of work. So, ask for help! A private chef can put together a meal that impresses your guests! Whether you’re hosting a dinner party or a special celebration, an in-home chef experience can be yours. Book a chef with Food Fire + Knives today!
